Historical information

Humberstone's Royal Hotel was a substantial 2-storey building on the corner of Canterbury and Broughton Road. The hotel was built in 1887 to replace an older hotel (Delany's Hotel) built further east in 1856.
It was de-licensed in 1921 after a "Local Option Poll" and became Tower House Day & Boarding School under Miss Marion Beetson from 1922 until 1932. It was demolished in 1932.
There were 25 students in the 1920's, mostly boarders from outside Surrey Hills and all primary school students. The school room was detached from the main building and there was 6 acres of playing area. The old bar was the business office, the girls' dormitory the old dining room. Marion Beetson was the teacher, Mary Beetson managed the household. Their father was an Indian Army officer.
The younger children wore a school blazer with the T.H.C. badge on the pocket. Miss Susan Kelsall visited to give piano lessons and Prof. Kelsall taught French. Miss Marion Beetson died in Castlemaine on 8 February 1952.
Information courtesy of Mrs Louise Bell, Castlemaine, ex-student. See SHP0867a and SHP0867b, photos of Louisa in T.H.C. uniform.

Physical description

Photograph of line sketch of Humberstone's Royal Hotel, Surrey Hills. In the foreground is a horse and cart with 5 men standing in front of the hotel. Main entrance is on the corner of the intersection with large windows. There are 8 on one side and 3 on the other with 4 arches on both upper and ground floors. Turret style edging hides the rooftop with two chimneys visible.

Inscriptions & markings

Pencilled on back "Spare - have in/ our photo files"